-AMIDE SUFFIX

Thursday, September 04, 2025 11:08AM

Amide suffix

In IUPAC nomenclature, the suffix "-amide" is used to denote the presence of the amide functional group (C(O)NH₂) when it is the principal functional group in a compound. This suffix is applied to the name of the parent alkane chain, which is determined by the number of carbon atoms in the longest continuous chain that includes the carbonyl carbon of the amide group. For example, a four-carbon chain with an amide group at the end is named butanamide. The suffix "-amide" is used exclusively for the principal functional group; if the amide group is not the principal functional group, it is named as a substituent using the prefix "carbamoyl".